Chelsea ready to pay £33m for AS Roma defensive sensation this summer

Chelsea are reportedly keen to add to their defensive ranks this summer following a drop of form from most of their stars under Antonio Conte last season.

The Italian failed to get the best out of his players in the previous campaign as Chelsea finished fifth in the Premier League standings and also crashing out of the Champions League and Carabao Cup knockout stages.

Winning the FA Cup will not guarantee Conte his future at Stamford Bridge and with several reports indicating he will leave the club this summer, the Blues are still maintaining a hug interest in bringing in more players for the next manager.

According to the Italian journalist Alfredo Peduilla, via Daily Star, Chelsea are ready to pay £33 million for Roma defender Kostas Manolas this summer to beef up their squad.

The Star Sport also reports that Chelsea are monitoring the situation at Napoli for Kalidou Koulibably as they seek to replace the ageing players in their squad.

How Patrick Vieira could affect Chelsea’s chase for major transfer target

Patrick Vieira has arrived at Nice to be their new manager, and that could have serious knock-on effects for Chelsea.

The Blues are chasing Jean Michel Seri, according to reports in places like the Daily Express, who plays at that Southern French club.

Not only might the midfielder want to stay and play under his news boss, who was an all time great in his position, there’s also Vieira’s ties to the City Football Group.

The former Arsenal man has been working at New York City FC, the CFG’s American operation, until moving to take this Ligue 1 shot. Previously he was working upstairs at the Etihad.

That means that he has strong links to City, and that might pave the way for a transfer for Seri, should Pep Guardiola be interested in the midfielder.

At the moment City look closer to signings Jorginho, but should they be unable to agree a fee for the Napoli man, we might start getting worried they’re going to pinch Seri off us.